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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(file rti tamil nadu,rti online tamil nadu,tamil nadu rti portal,tamil nadu state information commission,rti fee tamil nadu free,rti chennai,rti madurai,tnsic)&metatag-description=(File RTI online in Tamil Nadu — complete 2026 guide. Tamil Nadu RTI fees are FREE. e-Seva, in-person filing, department portals. Tamil Nadu State Information Commission contact, Greater Chennai Corporation procedures, and templates for common Tamil Nadu RTIs.)}}
+====== File RTI in Tamil Nadu — 2026 guide ======
+**Tamil Nadu has NO application fee for RTI — a unique advantage among Indian states. State RTIs are filed in person or by post to the department concerned; accepted in Tamil, Hindi or English under §4(3). The Tamil Nadu State Information Commission (TNSIC) sits at Chennai, with regional support at Madurai. Average response time 25-40 days. Central Government RTIs use rtionline.gov.in with the standard Rs 10 fee.**
+{{page>_snippets:dpdp-banner}}
+===== No State application fee — key advantage =====
+Tamil Nadu is one of **four Indian states** with zero RTI application fee (the others: Manipur, Sikkim, some circumstances in Meghalaya). Only **copy fees** of Rs 2 per A4 page apply if copies are requested; inspection of records is free for the first hour.
+**Central Government RTIs** filed in Tamil Nadu still use rtionline.gov.in with the standard **Rs 10** Central fee.
+===== Where to file =====
+| **Department type** | **Where** | **Fee** |
+| Central Government | **rtionline.gov.in** | Rs 10 |
+| State Government (Revenue, Home, Health, Education, RD&PR) | At the department in person / by post | **Free** |
+| Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) | GCC RTI Cell at Ripon Building | **Free** |
+| Tamil Nadu Police | District SP / Chennai Police HQ | **Free** |
+| Municipality / Town Panchayat | At the office | **Free** |
+| Universities (Madras, Madurai Kamaraj, Bharathiar, Annamalai) | University RTI Cell | **Free** |
+===== Tamil Nadu State Information Commission =====
+  * **Main bench**: Kamarajar Salai, Chennai-600009
+  * **Website**: https://tnsic.tn.gov.in (Tamil / English)
+  * **Second Appeal**: by post or in person within 90 days of FAA decision
+===== Filing tips specific to Tamil Nadu =====
+  * **Tamil filing**: under §4(3) and state policy, Tamil-language RTIs are fully accepted.
+  * **In-person filing**: most State departments still prefer in-person submission with stamped acknowledgement; post is also valid.
+  * **Department-specific portals**: some TN departments (Revenue, Education) have online submission forms; these are convenience layers — paper filing remains valid.
+  * **GCC online**: Greater Chennai Corporation has an online RTI form for municipal matters.
+  * **Tamil Nadu e-Sevai**: peripheral tracking for some department RTIs.
+===== Templates =====
+**Template 1 — Patta transfer / chitta records (Revenue Department)**
+<code>
+Kindly provide the following information under the RTI Act, 2005:
+. Copy of the patta transfer application for Survey No. [SF No.],
+   [Village], [Taluk], [District], dated [date].
+. Copy of the chitta / adangal entries for the said survey number
+   for the years [range].
+. Current status of the transfer — pending, approved, rejected.
+. Copy of the Tahsildar's order if passed.
+</code>
+**Template 2 — GCC property-tax records**
+<code>
+Kindly provide the following information under the RTI Act, 2005:
+. Copy of the property-tax assessment for Assessment No.
+   [AN], Ward [ward no.], Greater Chennai Corporation, for
+   the years [range].
+. Copies of any revision / correction notices issued.
+. Current dues and payment history.
+. Copy of the mutation / name-change application if filed.
+</code>
+**Template 3 — Education Department — teacher posting**
+<code>
+Kindly provide the following information under the RTI Act, 2005:
+. Copy of the posting / transfer order of [designation, name or
+   "any teacher"] at [School name], [Block], [District], dated [date].
+. Criteria / transfer policy applied.
+. Statement of teacher transfers in [District] for the academic
+   year [year] by cadre.
+. Vacancy position in the said school by subject.
+</code>
+===== Common rejection reasons — and the counter =====
+  * **"Not a citizen"** — you are; §3 of the RTI Act applies. Your Indian voter card or Aadhaar (if offered) is proof of citizenship.
+  * **"Use e-Sevai portal"** — e-Sevai is optional; paper RTI is a statutory right. Ask the PIO to cite which provision mandates portal filing.
+  * **"Records with another department"** — §6(3) requires transfer within 5 days; demand the transfer letter.
+  * **"§8(1)(j) personal information"** — post-DPDP 2025, check if the information truly concerns another individual. Public-authority action records are not personal.
+===== Notable Tamil Nadu rulings =====
+  * **[[:cases/madras-hc-assets-2024|Public servants' asset disclosure — Madras HC 2024]]** — post-Deshpande
+  * **[[:cases/madras-hc-rti-section-6-2-motive-2013|§6(2) no-motive rule — Madras HC 2013]]**
+  * **[[:cases/madras-hc-rti-pio-penalty-2020|§20 penalty — Madras HC 2020]]** — specific mala fide required
+  * **[[:cases/sic-tn-municipal-works-2021|Municipal works — TN SIC 2021]]** — §4 works register disclosure
+  * **[[:cases/madras-hc-rti-right-of-audience-2020|Right to be heard at FAA / Commission — Madras HC 2020]]**
+===== FAQs =====
+**Q1: Is RTI truly free in Tamil Nadu?** Yes — zero application fee. Only copy fees (Rs 2/page) and inspection fees (beyond first hour) apply.
+**Q2: Can I file RTI in Tamil?** Yes. §4(3) permits local-language filing; Tamil is fully accepted.
+**Q3: How long does an RTI reply take in Tamil Nadu?** 25-40 days for most matters; 30-50 days for GCC and Home Department.
+**Q4: Can an NRI file RTI?** Only Indian citizens under §3. OCI card-holders don't have direct standing.
+**Q5: Where is Tamil Nadu SIC?** Chennai — Kamarajar Salai. Website: tnsic.tn.gov.in.
+**Q6: Is there an online RTI portal for the Tamil Nadu government?** No single unified portal. Individual departments (Revenue e-Sevai, GCC online) offer their own forms. Paper RTI to the department is the statutorily valid path everywhere.
+===== Notable RTI rulings from Tamil Nadu (from the case-law corpus) =====
+  * **[[:cases:madras-hc-assets-2024|Public Servants' Assets Disclosure — Madras HC 2024]]** — Public-servant asset lists protected under §8(1)(j); public interest must be specifically pleaded.
+  * **[[:cases:hc-madras-rti-trp-ratings-2023|BARC TRP and DD audience data — Madras HC]]** — Public-broadcaster audience data OK; BARC TRP methodology §8(1)(d); aggregate ratings disclosable.
+  * **[[:cases:madras-hc-rti-pension-delay-2022|Pension sanction delay — Madras HC]]** — Pension sanction delay: FAA may direct release + cite PIO §20 exposure; structural remedy under §19(8)(a).
+  * **[[:cases:sic-tn-municipal-works-2021|Municipal works records — Tamil Nadu SIC]]** — Municipal works register + tender + completion records: §4(1)(b) proactive disclosure.
+  * **[[:cases:madras-hc-pio-penalty-2020|§20 penalty — Madras HC clarifications]]** — §20 penalty requires specific mala-fide or persistent-negligence finding; formal 30-day delay alone is insufficient.
+  * **[[:cases:madras-hc-rti-right-of-audience-2020|Applicant's right to be heard at FAA / Commission — Madras HC]]** — Applicant's right to be heard at FAA / IC — adverse orders passed ex parte are liable to be set aside.
+  * **[[:cases:madras-hc-rti-contempt-of-commission-2020|Defying Commission order — Madras HC]]** — Willful defiance of Commission direction is contempt — actionable via Art.215 HC jurisdiction.
+  * **[[:cases:madras-hc-rti-pio-penalty-2020|Section 20 penalty on PIO for deliberate delay — Madras HC 2020]]** — Deliberate PIO delay without recorded reasonable cause attracts the full §20(1) penalty.
+Browse the **[[:cases|full case-law database — 362 curated rulings]]** and filter by court / section / keyword.
+===== Related =====
+  * **[[:file-rti-online-india|Pan-India: File RTI online]]**
+  * **[[:file-rti-maharashtra|File RTI in Maharashtra]]**
+  * **[[:file-rti-karnataka|File RTI in Karnataka]]**
+  * **[[:rti-fees-by-state|RTI fees by State — full table]]**
+===== External =====
+  * Tamil Nadu SIC: https://tnsic.tn.gov.in
+  * Tamil Nadu e-Sevai: https://tnesevai.tn.gov.in
+  * Greater Chennai Corporation: https://chennaicorporation.gov.in
+~~NOCACHE~~
+//Last reviewed: 22 April 2026.//
+{{tag>state-guide tamil-nadu rti free chennai tnsic}}

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